I will traveling to Montanta with my youngest son (we fly into Butte) July 31 to Aug 9. Kevin is going on a backpacking trip with the Sierra Club then (my son who will be going to the University of New Hampshire for an Outdoor Education Degree (first semester studies include Backbacking, Rock Climbing, Ecology, and English..... so who is living the dream? Hope he includes a photo couse or two). I won't be doing the backpacking trip but figured it may be a good excuse to go somewhere I have never been and do photography. My son needs to get the to the trail head but he is too young to rent a car...... so perfect excuse for me! I know Yellowstone is ~ close so I may do that but I am sure it will be mayhem that time of year (probably worse than the Grand Canyon and Yosemite which I have been to at peak times). Any other note worthy places not on the beaten path and not to miss but easy to get to solo? I have never been to this part of the country so any suggestions welcome and appreciated.
Eva, Yellowstone will be mayhem I'm sure but the one good thing about it is it's a huge place and if you stay away from the tourist hotspots there's some beautiful scenery to be enjoyed. Granted it's been about 12 years since I've been to Yellowstone so I don't know how much things have changed in regards to the roads, but I was able to travel back roads and come across very few people. Most people are there to see the popular attractions such as the geysers and the freaky things in nature Yellowstone has to offer, but if you want to bypass that up and see the countryside Yellowstone has plenty to offer.
Montana is my most favorite place in the country to visit because of Glacier National Park. I don't know how much time you have even after your son is done hiking but if you have an extra day or to it's worth the drive. Enjoy.
Eva, I live just east of Butte in Bozeman. If you are into ghost towns, old buildings and the like, visit Montana's first territorial capital, Bannack State Park, south of Dillon Montana. Virginia City and Nevada City are in the same general area. Great old western mining towns with lots of history. While you are down there take a trip through Centennial Valley, (Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge) from Lima to Henry's Lake in Idaho. This is where they brought back the Trumpeter Swan from extinction. From there you can go into Yellowstone from West Yellowstone. Be prepared for the traffic this time of the year. Busy, busy. Closer to Butte, there is Georgetown Lake, west of Anaconda, Phillisburg which is a great little town, Skalkaho Pass with Skalkaho Falls and just south of Bozeman is Hyalite Canyon. These are all within a days driving distance of Butte. Let me know if I can answer any questions you may have. Best resource, Montana Atlas & Gazetteer published by Delorme.
Ron Dudley and I just returned from Red Rock Lakes NWR yesterday, it is a spectacular area. The Centennial Valley offers gorgeous scenic views, wildflowers and wildlife along with numerous species of birds. It was quiet and very peaceful, not much traffic at all. I would recommend a four-wheel drive vehicle as the roads can get dicey after a rain (we found that out yesterday after a hellacious thunderstorm the previous night).
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3 repliesEva
Montana is my most favorite place in the country to visit because of Glacier National Park. I don't know how much time you have even after your son is done hiking but if you have an extra day or to it's worth the drive. Enjoy.
Ron Dudley and I just returned from Red Rock Lakes NWR yesterday, it is a spectacular area. The Centennial Valley offers gorgeous scenic views, wildflowers and wildlife along with numerous species of birds. It was quiet and very peaceful, not much traffic at all. I would recommend a four-wheel drive vehicle as the roads can get dicey after a rain (we found that out yesterday after a hellacious thunderstorm the previous night).